No abstract

Introduction. Despite numerous research works on international students’ training at Russian universities, no analysis of efforts to increase student body has been made so far. In this paper, the authors analyze various aspects of policies aimed at increasing international students’ body (economic advantages, sociocultural benefits, education system changes, international students’ adaptation management). The goal of the paper is to consider the advantages and disadvantages of the international students’ rise in the total population of Russian universities. Materials and Methods. The study comprised several stages, including statistical data screening, analysis of international students’ adaptation measures efficiency, the education process participants’ survey and observation of the activities of public agencies responsible for international students’ stay and study in Russia. The survey involved about 100 university employees, an equal amount of small and medium business representatives and 500 international students from Russian universities. 500 international students participated in a questionnaire survey, and digital content of Russian universities’ websites has been analyzed in order to obtain data necessary for the study. Results. The study revealed a trend toward a rise in international student body at Russian universities, with advantages including higher universities’ incomes, jobs preservation despite the demographic instability, and development of the region’s small and medium business owing to an increased demand for goods and services. The trend also provided socio-cultural and educational benefits and revealed the need to manage students’ adaptation, as well as to establish and develop interaction between universities and federal agencies. Discussion and Conclusion. The research results provide a contribution to education and student body management and regional business strategy planning. The findings may be of assistance to heads of recruitment agencies and bodies responsible for accompanying international students at the place of stay, as well as to service industry managers.

Hydroxyapatite [Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2, HAp] is similar in chemical composition to bone tissue and widely used in clinical practice as a bone graft substitute. However, unmodified HAp has a low rate of resorption and a weak stimulating effect on the growth of new bone tissue. The introduction of carbonate ions into the structure of the HAp significantly affects the mineralization process and increases the rate of osseointegration. Silicon anions (up to 5%) also play an important and positive role, especially in the initial stages of bone matrix formation. In this regard, doping of synthetic hydroxyapatites with carbonate and silicate anions seems promising. This paper presents the results of the physico-chemical analysis of hydroxyapatite (HAp) samples doped with carbonate and silicate anions (CНAp, Si-HAp) synthesized by chemical precipitation in aqueous alkaline solutions. The structure and properties of the obtained samples are characterized using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and infrared spectrometry(IR). It is established that during the precipitation of the solid phase of HAp, a partial of phosphate ions is replaced by carbonate and/or silicate anions. The results show that the synthesized materials have nanoscale-crystallites with needle-shaped (HAp) and/or spherical forms (CНAp, Si-HAp) (12-85.5 nm) and are single-phase. The intrusion of carbonate and silicate anions into the structure of HAp significantly affects their morphology and particle size. This allows to consider CHAp and Si-HAp samples as promising biomaterials for orthopedic and dental prosthetics.